21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A good guide to thinking through your plan for your senior discount years, May 23, 2006
This review is from: Age Smart: Discovering the Fountain of Youth at Midlife and Beyond (Hardcover)
What I most appreciate about this book is that it is uplifting in its sensibility. It isn't trying to provide us aging baby-boomers with some magic pill or breakthrough way of living that will defy the calendar. It is written for practical people who want to look at their whole life as they prepare for the decades when they can enjoy their senior discounts. The book begins by recounting the story of a retired executive who took on another high-powered job because he didn't like the way the retirees he knew drifted into wearing pink pants. He swore he would never wear pink pants and the authors encourage us to make the same commitment.
The authors start with a sensible and moderate approach to the care of body. While we all get new aches and pains and many have to cope with new conditions and illnesses, there are sensible ways to manage them and to give yourself the best shot at not contributing to new limitations. Moderate exercise, a sensible moderate approach to diet, and keeping an active, engaged, and curious mind are all important factors in keeping yourself active and able to enjoy your life. The only extreme they want you to take is lowering stress (without becoming slack).
The second focus is on your "soul" (in the current squishy way of referring to your emotional well-being). This is about staying engaged with other people, finding a purpose (being engaged with a community organization, a job, or something to keep you outside yourself), and enjoying your life.
The last section focuses on practical finance. It is absolutely important to stay focused on maintaining the means to support yourself as you age. While one can remain aggressive with their money, the later decades are no time to take such huge risks that you will not have to make a recovery from a devastating loss. The guide is for sensible investments and to understand clearly what you have available and arranging your expenditures to be in line with your inflow while retaining the ability to cover emergencies.
A good book with sensible, if general, advice.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Practical Advice, October 22, 2011
"Some extremely curious people can't bear to go a day without learning something new."
Working beyond age 65 may become the norm in the not so distant future. "Age Smart" gives many practical ideas on how to stay young longer. This book addresses physical, mental, financial and spiritual considerations. The author's believe that 70 percent of the aging process is under your control. They give practical advice like how you should exercise for thirty minutes a day seven days a week. They explain how to read ingredient lists so you eat better and encourage the reader to eat foods in their natural state. There is also some information on why diets don't work and how lifestyle changes are needed for long-term health. Some of the most interesting sections of the book consist of interviews with people who have aged well. It is interesting to note that some people did not find their ideal career until well into their forties. Also it seems there are some things that will make you live longer like having a good sense of humor. I wouldn't recommend this book as the only book you read on aging but there are some important facts that could lead to you living a more productive life as you grow older.
~The Rebecca Review
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10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A superbly written book, May 25, 2006
This review is from: Age Smart: Discovering the Fountain of Youth at Midlife and Beyond (Hardcover)
I really enjoyed the book - it was very well written and I liked the balanced approach to aging. My favorite parts were the interviews because aging means so many different things to different people. It was good to know that things like staying curious and being an optimistic person are helpful in aging well and keeping the mind sharp. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone in their 30s, 40s and 50s who want to make sure they get to their older years in the best shape possible!
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